Ex-Girlfriend – Chapter 89

Amusing Ourselves to Death Arc

Agent 26

Xin Lan neither gave a definite approval nor disapproval; she simply waved her hand in response.

Shen Yun and Qin Yuyan entered the group, one after the other. Xin Lan wasn’t concerned about Qin Yuyan’s actions; her focus was on monitoring Shen Yun to prevent her from causing any trouble, such as going out for drinks or dinner.

Shen Yun appeared to be diligently working on set, coming and going with several assistants by her side.

Once Shen Yun was away from Xin Lan, she seemed carefree and full of joy, as if she had the spring wind at her back. Even with three spies around her, she didn’t mind.

She had never realized how much she loved being on set. Due to her mood, she was particularly dedicated and enthusiastic this time, earning praise from the director.

When Xin Lan heard about this incident, she found it quite amusing.

Shen Yun continued to cooperate with her as always, fearing that Xin Lan might think she didn’t care or wasn’t fully committed. Unexpectedly, she gave Xin Lan so much face.

Xin Lan was busy, occasionally sending messages to Qin Yuyan but never actually visiting the set.

Qin Yuyan would occasionally make jokes, saying, “Why haven’t you come to see me yet?” Xin Lan only replied with a few emojis, avoiding the topic.

Qin Yuyan seemed to have a realization and never brought it up again.

Xin Lan thought that Qin Yuyan must be feeling a bit down, and the mere thought of Qin Yuyan being low-spirited made her want to sigh.

Maybe this is for the best, Xin Lan thought to herself.

However, this thought vanished instantly upon hearing the news of Qin Yuyan falling ill.

She booked the next available flight and called Rabbit to inquire about the situation.

“A few days ago, there was a rain scene, and it took multiple takes. Yuyan Jie got soaked, so after she finished filming, I gave her Banlangen¹ to prevent a cold. But she still developed a fever.”

“How is she doing now?”

“She just took fever-reducing medicine and is asleep.”

“Alright, I’m preparing to board the plane now. I should arrive at your place around nine in the evening. We’ll touch base then.”

“Okay.”

Xin Lan furrowed her brows as she waited at the boarding gate, discussing her plans with An An.

She gripped her phone, feeling somewhat agitated.

Even someone typically composed could have moments of inner turmoil.

That restless emotion was beyond the control of her rational mind, affecting her mood.

She truly didn’t want to feel this way.

Zero Nine felt uneasy seeing Xin Lan like this. She thought her host should be that handsome, decisive, and imposing queen with a height of two meters and eight centimeters. But now, seeing her troubled by emotions, it seemed that everyone could be equally vulnerable when it came to matters of the heart.

Zero Nine: Host, why don’t you ask the person who’s causing you such distress? Matters of the heart are something you can’t escape, right? Qin Yuyan seems like the type who can persevere. If you keep dragging it out like this and complete your mission, disappearing from her world, won’t she feel regretful?

A failed confession or one without regrets is always better than not getting any result at all.

Xin Lan really isn’t someone who dwells on matters of the heart. For Qin Yuyan, she wonders just how many love-related nerves she’s killed.

The boarding announcement sounded at the airport, and Xin Lan took her boarding pass and joined the queue, concealing the tumultuous thoughts in her mind.

When Xin Lan arrived, Qin Yuyan was still in a deep sleep.

The room had only a small bedside lamp on, and Rabbit stood by. After seeing the message, Rabbit quickly opened the door for Xin Lan.

“How is she doing now?”

“She’s still sleeping, and her fever has gone down.”

“That’s good.”

Xin Lan nodded, relieved.

Xin Lan walked inside and went to the window.

Qin Yuyan lay there with her eyes closed, her complexion appearing somewhat weary, and her lips slightly pale.

Xin Lan used her hand to check her forehead’s temperature, ensuring it was normal before she could fully relax.

“Has she eaten anything since falling ill?”

Rabbit shook her head.

“I’ll go get some congee from the hotel now.”

Rabbit headed towards the door, and soon there was the sound of it opening and closing.

Xin Lan placed her bag aside and stood by Qin Yuyan’s window, gazing at her face in a trance.

She still preferred to see this lively and vibrant version of her.

As she looked at her, her heart was in turmoil.

Sometimes, emotions, this kind of thing, are truly fascinating.

No matter how much preparation you’ve done before, how many plans you’ve made, or how much mental fortitude you’ve built up, when you see that person, everything that came before can be shattered.

Tonight, there were no stars or moon in the sky, and the neon lights on the building right in front of the window flickered, giving off a somewhat desolate feeling.

Qin Yuyan’s eyelashes trembled, and she opened her eyes.

“I’m not dreaming, am I?”

Her voice carried a distinct nasal tone, and her eyes remained fixed on Xin Lan without blinking.

“Of course, you’re not dreaming. Are you thirsty? I’ll get you a glass of water.”

Qin Yuyan nodded, her eyes eagerly fixed on Xin Lan.

“When I started feeling unwell, I thought I might be getting sick, and at that moment, I kept thinking you would probably come to see me. I didn’t expect you to actually come.”

Xin Lan bent over to pour water for Qin Yuyan, and upon hearing these joyful words, her hand paused for a moment.

Xin Lan handed the lukewarm water to Qin Yuyan, silently urging her to drink.

Qin Yuyan smiled and took several sips, holding the blanket in her hands.

“I’ve ordered some congee for you from the hotel. Just wait a little while.”

“Mm-hmm, I’m not really very hungry right now, to be honest.”

Qin Yuyan replied, keeping her gaze fixed on Xin Lan’s face as she spoke.

“Have you been very busy with work lately?”

“It’s been okay.”

Qin Yuyan’s lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she held back.

Actually, as a talent manager, there wasn’t necessarily a need to visit the set.

However, she remembered Xin Lan saying that she would be the most important person in her heart.

If that’s the case, why didn’t she come then?

She heard from others that in the past, Xin Lan used to visit Shen Yun on set frequently.

In the entertainment industry, many things aren’t really secrets; you can easily find out with just a little inquiry.

Qin Yuyan didn’t actually want to hear about how well Xin Lan treated Shen Yun in the past, but she couldn’t help but masochistically look into it and make comparisons.

She thought that as long as she did well enough, one day Xin Lan would also care for her in such a meticulous way.

Moreover, now that Shen Yun had fallen out of favor with Xin Lan, she had no reason to care about anything else.

But despite saying that, she couldn’t control the occasional burst of bitterness that surfaced.

However, it didn’t matter. Qin Yuyan reassured herself, look, she’s here, standing right in front of you.

The atmosphere suddenly quieted down, and Xin Lan noticed Qin Yuyan’s hesitation.

In that moment, time seemed to stretch out.

They quietly gazed at each other, neither of them breaking the silence that hung between them.

Qin Yuyan saw the complexity in Xin Lan’s eyes, glimpsing a multitude of emotions in an instant.

It was like a ripple in a calm lake, but everything quickly returned to stillness, and in those eyes, there was nothing but her reflection.

Within that moment, there was an indescribable sadness, one that made her feel uncomfortable.

“Why did you want me to come visit?”

Xin Lan raised an eyebrow.

“Just… wanted you to see how well I’ve been doing.”

Qin Yuyan quickly offered a reason, feeling momentarily flustered.

In reality, there wasn’t much of a reason at all; she simply wanted to see this person.

“I know I trust you completely, and your performance has always been outstanding. I don’t need to worry about that.”

Xin Lan’s significant approval left Qin Yuyan feeling downcast, and she wasn’t pleased about it.

She wondered if being a little less outstanding, a little less excellent, could perhaps shift more of Xin Lan’s attention towards her.

Compared to these verbal compliments, she wished Xin Lan could spend more time with her.

It’s said that only the crying child gets more love, but she didn’t want to trouble Xin Lan that way.

She wanted to leave a good impression in her heart.

Qin Yuyan’s undisguised disappointment left Xin Lan unsure whether to consider her clever or naive.

Was she clever enough to use this display to gain her attention, to make her realize something was amiss in her feelings, or was she truly naive and thought she was hiding everything well?

“As long as you keep working hard like this, I guarantee your future will be bright.”

“Mm.”

Qin Yuyan replied with a smile, but it felt less genuine from deep within.

“How has Shen Yun been lately? I heard from a friend that she recently failed an audition?”

Qin Yuyan asked as if in casual inquiry, but it was a presence she had been very concerned about.

She wasn’t trying to compete; she knew that the past and present couldn’t be compared.

“Isn’t it quite normal to fail auditions? Your sources are quite well-informed.”

“Just something a friend mentioned.”

In reality, she deliberately inquired and someone had shared this news with her.

“I was just a bit surprised. With her current acting reputation and status, how could she possibly fail an audition for a TV series?” Qin Yuyan explained.

“You don’t need to concern yourself with her affairs. Just focus on your own path.”

Xin Lan said, implying that she would take care of that scumbag, and there was no need to pay attention to it. However, in Qin Yuyan’s eyes, Xin Lan appeared resolute in her response.

Qin Yuyan felt a bit bitter, realizing that her concern might have crossed a line.

The atmosphere grew colder once again, each of them lost in their thoughts. Qin Yuyan lowered her head, took another sip from her water glass, and held it in her hands.

Fortunately, at that moment, Rabbit entered with a bowl of congee, breaking the awkward silence.

“Yuyan Jie, you’re awake. Do you feel any better? This is plain congee with some pickled vegetables on top, light but suitable for someone who’s unwell. You can have it to fill your stomach.”

Rabbit said as she took the water glass from Qin Yuyan’s hand and handed her the bowl.

Qin Yuyan nodded and picked up a spoon to stir the congee.

“Then you should rest after you finish eating.”

“Are you leaving?”

Qin Yuyan asked instinctively.

“No rush.”

Xin Lan replied.

Qin Yuyan nodded, her spirits lifting as she curled her lips into a smile.

As Xin Lan left and closed the door, Qin Yuyan hummed a tune, feeling quite content. She blew on the congee to cool it down and took a sip.

Rabbit, watching her boss suddenly so full of energy, found it strangely perplexing.

For some reason, she had a feeling that something was off.

Rabbit glanced at Qin Yuyan in bed, then at the closed door, lost in thought.

Xin Lan had booked a room for herself, but it wasn’t on the same floor. Both the floors above and below were reserved by the production crew, and the occupants were all members of the same team.

She sat on the bed in her room and pressed her temple.

In truth, when she had asked Qin Yuyan why she wanted her to visit, she had been worried that Qin Yuyan might give her a straightforward answer. However, considering Qin Yuyan’s cautious and careful personality, she didn’t expect such a direct response. As expected.

But she couldn’t deny that at that moment, she had a tiny bit of anticipation in her heart.

It felt like she was approaching a faint glimmer and wanted to be illuminated by it. However, she was also afraid that if she held that glimmer in her hands, she might extinguish it, preventing it from shining brightly.

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1. Banlangen is a traditional Chinese herbal remedy made from the roots of the isatis tinctoria plant. It is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine as a remedy for various ailments, including colds, flu, and sore throats.